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FAQs about ALMA

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Making a donation

Is my donation tax deductible?

All donations on ALMA are to verified 501(c)3 nonprofit entities in good standing with the IRS.

ALMA will issue a tax receipt on behalf of the nonprofit after every donation. You’ll receive an email with all the necessary information, and all your tax receipts will be stored in the “My Account” section of ALMA’s website and app.

Plus, in January, we'll email you a summary receipt of all your donations through ALMA from the previous year so you’ll have all your receipts in one place.

How do I donate a custom amount?

We’ve helped individuals make custom donations ranging from the proceeds of a bake sale, to gifts of $10,000+ from corporate donations. Email us at hi@alma.app and we’ll get you set up quickly.

Can I mail a check?

The easiest way to make a donation on our website or app, where you can donate with credit card, Apple Pay and Google Pay. That said, if you’d like to mail a check or pay with ACH, email us at hi@alma.app so we can share instructions.

Can I send a donation as a gift?

Absolutely. ALMA is a great way to give meaningful gifts to friends, family, or colleagues. Make a donation on ALMA as you normally would, and then click 'Make this donation a gift' from your donation history.

Customize the card by writing a special message, then either print or email directly to the lucky recipient!

Is my donation secure?

We partner with Stripe, one of the world’s leading payment processors, to handle our transactions. For more information, please refer to this information on Stripe security.

ALMA’s Nonprofit Partners

How does ALMA evaluate nonprofits?

We use a classic Why, How, What framework to evaluate the nonprofits:

WHY does this organization exist?

HOW does this nonprofit advance towards its mission?

WHAT does this nonprofit do?

Our internal evaluation system, The ALMA Scorecard, measures nonprofits across 28 variables - ranging from their financial profile, their commitment to transparency, their quantifiable impact, to the strength of their communication.

What types of nonprofits are featured on ALMA?

All the nonprofits on ALMA are vetted with our internal scoring system, and we believe these organizations are top tier organizations.

We aim to shine the spotlight on a handful of nonprofits that need help growing. We lean towards grassroots nonprofits that haven't invested heavily in fundraising, brand, or growth, and need a hand.

Finally, we want to make a meaningful difference to the nonprofit. We'd rather contribute $10K to a nonprofit with a $1M budget than a $100M budget, so long as their capacity for growth is clear.

Can organizations pay to be featured on ALMA?

No, our program is invite-only. We’ve handpicked every nonprofit that is featured on ALMA.

Having an impact

Can I host a fundraiser event (e.g. a benefit concert) with proceeds going to ALMA?

Of course! We’ve had a number of bake sales, jewelry drives, and musicians who have donated their proceeds on ALMA.

Can I find volunteering opportunities on ALMA?

Many of the nonprofits we partner with have great hands-on volunteering opportunities like beach clean-ups, soup kitchens, and tree plantings. Check out opportunities that might work for you on our fund and nonprofit pages.

Can I donate items or goods?

Unfortunately, ALMA currently isn’t able to handle any donated items or good. We recommend reaching out to the nonprofits directly.

Can I use ALMA for corporate matching?

If you’re an employee, many employers simply require a tax receipt as evidence of a donation. You’ll get a receipt after every donation on ALMA which you can then upload. We’re hoping to build more sophisticated integrations into workplace giving systems in coming months.

More about ALMA

How did ALMA get its name?

In Latin, the word ‘alma’ means kind, fostering, and nourishing. It’s also a nod to a woman we admire, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, known as the “the great-grandmother of San Francisco”. She was one of the first and most important philanthropists in San Francisco. Read about her impact on San Francisco or visit a statue of her in the middle of Union Square.

What type of organization is ALMA?

ALMA is a Public Benefits Corporation (“PBC”) headquartered in Washington, D.C. Our status a PBC means we have a legal obligation to uphold our promise of prioritizing social impact. We believe ALMA should be a self-sustainable business so we can have the most impact for our nonprofit partners.

We’re proud to be in a small group of companies that have declared their intent as a social impact company, alongside companies like Allbirds, Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s.

ALMA is not itself a 501(c)3 charity. ALMA partners with 501(c)3 organizations to facilitate donations.

How can I contact ALMA?

Email us at hi@alma.app and we’ll get back to you quickly. We’re always open to feedback and new ideas!

Fees and Costs

Does it cost money to join ALMA?

No, the ALMA website and app are both free to use.

How does ALMA make money?

We primarily rely on the generosity of donors like you! Many our members choose to leave tips for the ALMA platform, which allows us to keep growing. We are so grateful for your support and encouragement.

Additionally, ALMA charges a small processing fee between 4-8%, which includes the cost of credit card processing charged by Visa & Mastercard. Our fees are significantly below the 15% - 20% nonprofits in the US typically spend to fundraise. We aim to be the most efficient way for a nonprofit to grow their impact.